Australasian gannet

The Australasian gannet, also known as the Australian gannet or tākapu, is a large seabird of the booby and gannet family, Sulidae. Adults are mostly white, with black flight feathers at the wingtips and lining the trailing edge of the wing. The central tail feathers are also black. The head is tinged buff-yellow, with a pearly grey bill edged in dark grey or black, and blue-rimmed eyes. Young birds have mottled plumage in their first year, dark above and light below. The head is an intermediate mottled grey, with a dark bill. The birds gradually acquire more white in subsequent seasons until they reach maturity after five years.

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Distribution

Region

Australasia (New Zealand and southern Australia)

Typical Environment

Breeds on offshore islands and coastal headlands around New Zealand and in southern Australia, especially in Bass Strait and Tasmania. Prefers open marine waters over the continental shelf and shelf edges where schooling fish are abundant. Colonies are on flat or gently sloping ground or cliff ledges with unobstructed take-off. Forages widely over the Tasman Sea and adjacent coastal currents and upwellings. Nonbreeding birds disperse broadly along coasts and sometimes far offshore.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 300 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size84–94 cm

Wing Span165–180 cm

Male Weight2.4 kg

Female Weight2.3 kg

Life Expectancy20 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also called tākapu in Māori, the Australasian gannet is famous for spectacular plunge-dives from heights of 10–30 m to catch fish. Adults form long-term pair bonds and perform elaborate bill-fencing displays at crowded colonies. Air sacs under the skin cushion impacts when diving, and their forward-facing eyes give excellent binocular vision for targeting prey.

Gallery

Adult in flight, showing black markings on wings and tail

Juveniles have spotted brown plumage.

Breeding colony at Muriwai, New Zealand

Sitting on the surface of the water

Adult and chick

Adult feeding fledging chick

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

strong flier and soaring glider; rapid wingbeats before dramatic plunge-dives

Social Behavior

Highly colonial, nesting in dense groups on islands and headlands. Pairs perform ritualized greeting displays and share incubation and chick-rearing duties. Nests are shallow scrapes lined with vegetation or seaweed, and chicks are fed by regurgitation.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

At colonies they give loud, harsh barks and cackles, especially during displays and territorial interactions. In flight and at sea they are mostly quiet, vocalizing mainly near the nest.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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